DATE: APRIL  29, 2019

From: Charlotte Soccer Academy, 13501 Dorman Road, Pineville NC 28134

Contact: Patrick Daka – [email protected] – 704-708-4166

For Immediate Release: CSA Announces Strategic Partnership with FC Athletico

The Directors and Board of Charlotte Soccer Academy are proud to announce that the club and FC Athletico have entered into a strategic partnership to collaborate on player development beginning 2019-2020 season.

We are excited to announce Charlotte Soccer Academy and FC Athletico have entered into a mutually beneficial strategic partnership to expand Charlotte Soccer Academy’s boys and girls USSDA scouting network and offer developmental pathway for FC Athletico players into the USSDA national program.

The partnership allows FC Athletico to recommend players for USSDA evaluations. During the season, top performing players will be able to train and play in games for CSA USSDA as part-time players with a pathway to full-time at a time agreed on by both parties.

“We are excited to continue the positive relationship we have had with CSA over the years to provide our players the opportunity to train, play in games with the CSA USSDA teams and work with top level coaches. This relationship allows us to continue focusing on the development of the players while providing a pathway for our players at the Development Academy level. We see a lot of value in having the opportunity to recommend players and provide them with opportunities to train and be involved in national level competition on a part-time basis until they are ready to make the full-time transition. We look forward to continuing to work with a club that shares our values, commitment to the player and are excited about the opportunities this provides our players," says Tinashe Mugabe, FC Athletico Executive Director.

Charlotte Soccer Academy Executive Director, Brad Wylde echoes the same sentiments adding, “I’m very excited about the opportunity to work with Tinashe and his staff at FC Athletico.  We have had the opportunity to play games vs their teams on numerous occasions over the past several years and our staff have always been impressed with the quality of play, both individually and collectively, from the teams they produce. Technically the players are very proficient, comfortable and clean on the ball.  Tactically, they make good decisions both on and off the ball and all teams are very organized. As an organization, we at CSA, want to align with other clubs who follow a similar model like ourselves and want the opportunity to assist in Tinashe’s mission to provide a pathway to the national level programs for players who have the desire and natural ability to achieve that goal. We are excited about sharing ideas and working together for a common goal.”

Both clubs will retain autonomy on programs, name, badge and brand. FC Athletico players will remain FC Athletico players until they fully transition to CSA’s national programs.

In addition to players’ access to the national programs, FC Athletico will be able to participate in friendly games with CSA’s USYS, ECNL, and USSDA teams. The main goal is to create a developmental pathway for FC Athletico’s players who are at the USSDA level and allows Charlotte Soccer Academy to expand its scouting network to Mooresville and surrounding areas.

“The relationship between CSA and  FC Athletico is a win-win for both clubs, it allows us to share in idea’s reference to the development pathway of players from both clubs. Our philosophies align, which is an added bonus. We see the game the same way. The relationship allows players to be exposed to the USSDA environment while still remaining with their primary club. At any point the players show potential, we have the opportunity to merge these players into an elite playing environment. From a “player first” development model it ticks all of the boxes. We look forward to the new venture,” says CSA’s USSDA Director, Steve Gummer.

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